OTTAWA - A Commons committee is calling for creation of a special panel of lawyers to deal with secret evidence in security cases.
In its report on the Anti-Terrorism Act, the public safety committee says the security-cleared panel would be able to challenge evidence in closed hearings.
The MPs say it would inject more transparency and accountability into hearings involving suspected terrorists and other alleged security threats.
The Anti-Terrorism Act, passed after the 9-11 attacks, allows the government to brand individuals and organizations as terrorists, imposing stiff penalties against anyone who participates in their activities or assists members of such groups.
It also gives police the power to make "preventive arrests'' of those suspected of planning a terrorist attack, and it requires anyone with information relevant to the investigation of a terrorist act to appear before a judge.
Both the Commons committee and a Senate panel have already recommended extending those provisions.
